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It's an old ballad, usually referred to as "Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of
Cloudesly."  There are different versions and no known author.
 
Clim was supposedly an archer and companion of Robin Hood. 
 
The following info is from http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/BalladIndex.html 
 
Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly[Child 116] 
 
DESCRIPTION: Three outlaws live in the forest. William visits his wife, is arrested, is
rescued by the others. They seek pardon from the king, succeed by the queen's
intervention, then show their archery prowess, including cleaving an apple on a child's
head.
AUTHOR: unknown 
EARLIEST DATE: 1536 
KEYWORDS: outlaw pardon royalty 
FOUND IN: Britain(England) 
REFERENCES (4 citations): 
Child 116, "Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly" (2 texts)Bronson 116,
"Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly" (1 version, though Bronson
questions its connetion with this song) Percy/Wheatley I, pp. 153-179, "Adam Bell, Clym of
the Clough, and William of Cloudesley" (1 text)
OBB 114, "Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly" (1 text) 
CROSS-REFERENCES: 
cf. "Auld Matrons" [Child 249] (theme) 
Notes: For the connection of this song with the Robin Hood legend, see the notes on "A
Gest of Robyn Hode" [Child 117]. - RBW
 
 
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